Conference Day provides skills that will support, engage students

Parents and guardians may look at the district calendar and wonder what exactly takes place during a Conference Day.

On these days, our classrooms, libraries and cafeterias – the seats where our students usually sit – become filled with teachers who are building new skills and learning research-backed strategies that will support and engage students.

As we plan our Conference Day sessions and explore an endless list of potential topics, we focus on those that will directly benefit our students.

Our Nov. 5 Conference Day offered teachers the opportunity to learn more about topics tied to amplifying student voice, boosting mindfulness, improving cultural responsiveness, facilitating small group instruction, integrating new technology and building a stronger curriculum. While many of the day’s workshops and training sessions rivaled what one might find at a national conference, most of our teachers’ sessions were just a short walk away.

Not only does ongoing professional development keep teachers up-to-date on new research about how children learn, emerging technology tools and new curriculum resources, it also gives them an opportunity to hear from their own colleagues. Today’s Conference Day also brought teachers together and allowed them to discuss their own classroom experiences and best practices.

Press play on the video below for a look at the day’s events.